Written evidence from Northampton Group
of Bus Users UK (BUS 134)
1.0 IMPACT OF
REDUCTION IN
LOCAL AUTHORITY
GRANT SUPPORT
1.1 As a user group we were dismayed
to hear from the local media that Northamptonshire County Council
supported bus services were to be totally withdrawn.
However this did give the Local Transport
Authority the opportunity to start with a blank piece of paper
to provide a more cost-effective provision
of bus services throughout the whole county.
1.2 The bus subsidy budget was reduced
from £3.4 million to £0.7 million, but later revised
to £1.0 million.
1.3 Our main concern is that the county
council have yet to determine exactly how to effectively spend
their lower allocation of funds.
1.4 We currently have a situation where
a rural bus service has been reduced from two buses operating
the service, to one. There was a two hour frequency from 0700
to 1900 hours. This
now means that a journey which on a clockwise circular route used
to take 20 minutes, now takes 80 minutes going anti-clockwise.
They have two buses into Northampton
in the morning, and two journeys back in the late afternoon.
Surely a taxi-bus to link with nearby
shopping centres on the edge of Northampton, with links to other
buses, would be more suitable. Within
this same route, other villagers who have shops and medical facilities
just five miles away, have a five and a half hour wait to return
home by bus. Again,
a taxi-bus at mid-day could solve this problem.
1.5 All relevant parish councils are
presently being contacted, with a 27 May deadline, with new "dial
a ride" or "community" bus services being introduced
from 5 September.
2.0 IMPACT
OF THE
ADMINISTRATION OF
DISABLED AND
SENIOR CITIZEN
BUS PASSES
BEING TRANSFERRED
FROM DISTRICT
TO COUNTY
2.1 The re-imbursement from the local
transport authority to the bus operators has now reached an all
time low of around 38p in the pound per journey made.
2.2 One bus company in the county has
written to the thirteen parish councils their bus service passes
through, asking for financial assistance.
2.3 Senior citizens are asking to be
allowed to pay £1 each time they travel. They are requesting
permission to do this on all journeys, in order to save their
bus service. Otherwise they will feel stranded.
This would be similar to a scheme
this county introduced when travelling outside the District of
residence, when free passes were first introduced.
Any payment, however, is currently
not allowed by the present law of the land. I understand that
one bus chain is asking for donations.
2.4 Bus companies are re-costing the
viability of providing a bus service where the majority of passengers
are pass-holders, finding them not viable, and either asking the
Local Transport Authority for public funding, or withdrawing from
the route. (See 1.4 as an example).
2.5 Some villages currently receiving
a two hourly frequency, six days a week, ace the prospect of just
one bus each way, on one or two days a week.
3.0 CONSULTATION
3.1 An on-line "Have Your Say"
consultation is presently under way (1.5) Local press are urging
bus passengers to participate.
3.2 Passenger Focus and Bus Users U.K.
At national level have organised a "YOUR BUS MATTERS"
surgery in Northampton Market Square on 4 June 2011.
3.3 One national canal attraction. With
limited parking, is included on the bus route at 1.4, and is asking
for a better bus service.
3.4 Passengers need to travel to places
of work, medical and dental appointments, probation service appointments,
connect with rail and ferry services.
Leisure pursuits will no doubt be
non-existent with the withdrawal of evening and Sunday journeys.
This is a quality of life issue.
4. CONCLUSION
I feel consultation should have carried out earlier,
in order to allay bus passengers fears. We felt we were in limbo,
as no dates for implementation were forthcoming, until the recent
consultation launch. The end result may prove to be suitable to
most, but not all passengers needs. It is intended to provide
schemes similar to those operating in Lincolnshire, in most parts
of the county. Bus stop provision for two bus stops, so as not
to tread on a commercial route, requested in August 2010 has yet
to be installed. A revised service, requiring a subsidy, with
a suggested time-table following a meeting attended by Andrea
Leadsom M.P. In October 2010 has still to be introduced to replace
a three hour frequency service in which passengers have lost confidence.
As a Bus User Group, we meet four times a year with
representatives from both the Local Transport Authority and the
bus companies. At our last meeting First Bus, Stagecoach, Meridian
Bus and Centre Bus were all represented. Soul Bothers, Country
Lion and Yorks (Bowen) were also invited. Our views and concerns
are treated with respect, and changes we suggest are made where
possible.
April 2011
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